He was best known for his work on the hugely successful Don Lane
Show, which ran on the Nine Network from 1975 to 1983.

It was on the show that he formed a friendship with fellow
entertainer Newton.

Newton said this afternoon that Lane "reinvented variety".

“Variety took on a new meaning. There were satellite
interviews, world famous guests were coming onto the show. He
shared the set with some of the biggest names in the
business.”

“To me it's a great loss," he added.

“I laughed at the time and I laugh now at the memory on
this very sad day.”

When Don Lane appeared on Channel Nine's This is Your
Life more than 13 years ago, his friends and family painted a
picture of a man who was kind, funny and bursting with colour.

TV producer John Collins described his first encounter with the
man who would go on to win an astonishing 15 Logie Awards.

“I was visiting Wayne Newton in Hawaii and he was the star
attraction at The Dunes Nightclub. He told me to take a look at
this bloke, Don Lane. He reckoned he was good enough to be the next
Dave Allen.

“Don was singing in this seedy little back room –
one step up from a brothel, really – but I took one look at
him and I knew Wayne was right.”

Colette Mann, a regular on the hugely popular Don Lane
Show, remembered the entertainer's sharp wit.

“[Y]ou always knew when Don liked you. He used to say to
me, 'I could really go for you if you were 40 pounds lighter and a
foot and a half taller.'”

Others recalled his gentler side. Don's friend, actor and singer
Toni Lamond, remembered how Don's kindness had helped her
“many times over the years”.

“One time, I was out of work with $5 to my name, and Don
got me a job working in a pub. I was a bit worried abut taking it
because I thought everyone would recognise me, but Don suggested I
just tell people I was researching a book.

“The only problem was, people would say to me, 'Oh,
that'll be good for your book,' and I'd say, 'What book? ... Oh,
that book.”

“But on a more serious note, Don's always been there for
me. Especially when I was battling my prescription drug problem in
1975. Don publicly supported me and really helped me through it.
That meant a lot to me.”

Don's sister, Ellen-Sue, said she admired her older brother.

“[He] was always so funny, and I'm just so proud of what
he's achieved.”

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